CITIC SQUARE Renovation
Pixels Within Pixels: Bring a Historic Commercial Corner up to Date
LOCATION
Shanghai, China
SIZE
34,500 sqm
DATE COMPLETED
2022
PHOTOGRAPHER
Terrence Zhang
Dynamic and futuristic, Kokaistudios’ latest renovation transforms a twenty-year old shopping mall into a modern lifestyle destination. By breaking up the mall’s boxy silhouette through seemingly floating pixels, the new architecture complements its historic surroundings, opening new vistas and possibilities.
Dynamic and futuristic, Kokaistudios’ latest renovation transforms a twenty-year old shopping mall into a modern lifestyle destination. By breaking up the mall’s boxy silhouette through seemingly floating pixels, the new architecture complements its historic surroundings, opening new vistas and possibilities.
Pixels are central to Kokaistudios’ design approach. Their interpretation is both literal - such as the mall’s transparent grid facade - as well as conceptual: individual units that come together create a cohesive whole. They are most visible on the mall’s Nanjing Road frontage where an outdated glass and stone facade has been replaced by a series of large-sized rectangles and squares of varying dimensions and gradated opacities, each protruding from the building’s core volume to create the impression of floating.
Pixels are central to Kokaistudios’ design approach. Their interpretation is both literal - such as the mall’s transparent grid facade - as well as conceptual: individual units that come together create a cohesive whole. They are most visible on the mall’s Nanjing Road frontage where an outdated glass and stone facade has been replaced by a series of large-sized rectangles and squares of varying dimensions and gradated opacities, each protruding from the building’s core volume to create the impression of floating.
Despite their contemporary connotations, the ‘pixels’ connect the mall to its historic urban context. Directly opposite is one of the city’s best-preserved lòngtáng: typical of Shanghai and dating from the early twentieth century, they are walled compounds of traditional lane housing, usually two- to three-storeys in height. CITIC SQUARE’s pixels facade create a scale in keeping with the older architecture opposite.
Despite their contemporary connotations, the ‘pixels’ connect the mall to its historic urban context. Directly opposite is one of the city’s best-preserved lòngtáng: typical of Shanghai and dating from the early twentieth century, they are walled compounds of traditional lane housing, usually two- to three-storeys in height. CITIC SQUARE’s pixels facade create a scale in keeping with the older architecture opposite.
The design approach of breaking up the big-box mall continues inside the space, where a formerly vast atrium is now dissected by a mezzanine. Because lower levels’ flagship custom made facades allows for greater light control as opposed to upper floors’ abundance of transparent glass, the platform creates two distinct atmospheres, signalling shoppers’ journey between fashion below, and F&B above.
The design approach of breaking up the big-box mall continues inside the space, where a formerly vast atrium is now dissected by a mezzanine. Because lower levels’ flagship custom made facades allows for greater light control as opposed to upper floors’ abundance of transparent glass, the platform creates two distinct atmospheres, signalling shoppers’ journey between fashion below, and F&B above.
Like a secondary circulation tracking that of shoppers, LED screens run throughout the atrium in an infinite loop. Fully customizable, they update the mall into a dynamic multimedia space. Resembling a pulsating data flow, they reinforce CITIC SQUARE’s pixel theme to digital, literal, and futuristic effect.
Like a secondary circulation tracking that of shoppers, LED screens run throughout the atrium in an infinite loop. Fully customizable, they update the mall into a dynamic multimedia space. Resembling a pulsating data flow, they reinforce CITIC SQUARE’s pixel theme to digital, literal, and futuristic effect.
The design trope is revisited in an abstract way in striking lift lobbies, where walls of glass bricks create impactful pixelated numbers.
The design trope is revisited in an abstract way in striking lift lobbies, where walls of glass bricks create impactful pixelated numbers.
Dynamic and futuristic, Kokaistudios’ latest renovation transforms a twenty-year old shopping mall into a modern lifestyle destination. By breaking up the mall’s boxy silhouette through seemingly floating pixels, the new architecture complements its historic surroundings, opening new vistas and possibilities.
Pixels are central to Kokaistudios’ design approach. Their interpretation is both literal - such as the mall’s transparent grid facade - as well as conceptual: individual units that come together create a cohesive whole. They are most visible on the mall’s Nanjing Road frontage where an outdated glass and stone facade has been replaced by a series of large-sized rectangles and squares of varying dimensions and gradated opacities, each protruding from the building’s core volume to create the impression of floating.
Despite their contemporary connotations, the ‘pixels’ connect the mall to its historic urban context. Directly opposite is one of the city’s best-preserved lòngtáng: typical of Shanghai and dating from the early twentieth century, they are walled compounds of traditional lane housing, usually two- to three-storeys in height. CITIC SQUARE’s pixels facade create a scale in keeping with the older architecture opposite.
The design approach of breaking up the big-box mall continues inside the space, where a formerly vast atrium is now dissected by a mezzanine. Because lower levels’ flagship custom made facades allows for greater light control as opposed to upper floors’ abundance of transparent glass, the platform creates two distinct atmospheres, signalling shoppers’ journey between fashion below, and F&B above.
Like a secondary circulation tracking that of shoppers, LED screens run throughout the atrium in an infinite loop. Fully customizable, they update the mall into a dynamic multimedia space. Resembling a pulsating data flow, they reinforce CITIC SQUARE’s pixel theme to digital, literal, and futuristic effect.
The design trope is revisited in an abstract way in striking lift lobbies, where walls of glass bricks create impactful pixelated numbers.
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